Weeding-machine



(No Model.)

' 2 S-heets-heet 1. -U-. 1 A. MILLER.

Wee-ding Machine.

Patented Aug. 31,1880.

Fig.1

woman. 2 sheets-sheet 2. V (LP. A. MILLER. i

Weeding Machine.

NO. 231,676. Patented Aug. 31,1880.

Ckqarle \s fie) N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTDN. D43.

NITED STATES CHARLES. F. A. MILLER, OF ONTARIOVILLE, ILLINOIS.

WEQ'EDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,676, dated August 31,1880. Application filed May 31, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOHARLEs F. A. MILLER, of Ontarioville, Du Page county, Illinois, have invented anew and useful Weeding-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to eradicate the weeds from young and standing grain without injuring or disturbing the grain. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top View of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side view with one wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the cylinder. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the cylinder. Fig. 5 is a view of the bearings by which the machine is supported by the wheels, and Fig. 6 is the spurwheel secured upon and operating the shaft of the cylinder.

Like letters indicate like parts in the different figures.

The cylinder B is supported in the frameA by its shaft 12, which turns in suitable hearings in the frame and in the bearings O G. The frame is supported upon wheels by means of the triangular-shaped bearings O 0. (Shown in full in Fig. 5.) The axle of the wheel is attached rigidly to the hearing at c, and the frame A is secured to the bearin g at c by means of the cylinder-shaft b, projecting through and beyond the frame.

The bearings (l O are connected with each other by the bar D, extending across and above the machine, and rigidly secured to the bearings at the points 0 0 By means of the lever E, attached to the bar D, the bearings can be turned on the axles of the wheels, thus throwing the cylinder-shaft above or below the axles, and thus raising or lowering the machine. The lever D traverses a notched segment, F, to which it can be secured at any point by a catch, in the usual manner, thus maintaining the machine at any desired height.

Attached rigidly to one of the wheels carrying the frame A is a spur-wheel, G, which engages the spur-wheel b, which causes the shaft 1) and cylinder to revolve. The spur-wheel b is secured to the shaft 1) in such a manner that when the machine is propelled forward a pawl attached to the wheel engages a ratchet upon the shaft, thus causing it to turn with the wheel. When the machine moves backward the pawl slips upon the ratchet and the shaft and cylinder remain at rest. This mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 6.

At It in Fig. 2 is shown a device by which the pawl and ratchet shown in Fig. 6 can be disengaged and the machine thus thrown out of gear.

The cylinder B is composed of two cylinderheads, b b made with openings, as shown in Fig. 4, and provided with. projecting flanges, as shown in Fig. 3, which cylinder-heads are attached firmly to the shaft 11, and plates of sheet-iron, which form the periphery'of the cylinder, are fastened to the flanges of the cylinder-heads by screws or bolts, so as to leave three narrow slots or openings running lengthwise of the cylinder at points equally distant from each other. To the inside of each of the cylinder-heads, and near their peripheries, are pivoted, at one of their ends, three arms, I I I, capable of vibration upon their pivots. These arms are arranged in corresponding positions on the two cylinder-heads, so as to operate in pairs. The ends of the arms opposite the pivots are provided each with a spur, placed on s the outside of the arm so as to project through the openings in the end pieces into the slots j of the plates J J. V

The circular plates J J are bolted rigidly to either side of the frame A, the shaft 11 of the cylinder passing through their centers, they being of the proper diameter to fit easily within the projecting flanges of the cylinderheads I) W, to which they are adjacent. On the inner sides of the plates J J are grooves j j, cut into the plates, in which the spurs of the arms I I I slide during the revolution of the cylinder, the plates J J thus forming cams, which impart the proper motion to the arms I I I. Secured in the ends of each pairof arms, and extending from one arm to the other of the pair lengthwise and inside of the cylinder, is a bar with projecting teeth or comb K. The teeth of the combs are about four inches in length, with tapering ends, and are situated about one-sixteenth of an inch apart. The teeth are curved, and the comb is so adjusted on the arms that the teeth form an arc of a circle of which the. pivot of the arm is the center, as shown in Fig. 4, and, as is also shown in that figure, the combs and arms are so situated that the teeth project from the openings in the cylinder.

In operation the machine is propelled by draft applied at the front of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and by means of the driving spur-wheel G motion is imparted to the cylinder B, which revolves in a direction opposite to that of the supporting-wheels. As the cylinder revolves the spurs of the arms I I I, sliding in the grooves j j, cause the arms to vibrate, and the combs are thus caused to alternately project and withdraw through the openings in the cylinder,bein g projected to the farthest extent when at the point nearest the ground. As the cylinder thus passes over the ground the revolving teeth catch the stalks of the Weeds, pulling them from the ground, and as the cylindcr'revolves the teeth are withdrawn through the narrow slots in the cylinder and the weeds are disengaged from the teeth, while the blades of the grain, being smaller or finer than the stalks of the weeds, slip between the teeth without being disturbed.

I What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a weeding-machine, the combination of a longitudinally-slotted revolving cylinder, a series of combs working in said slots, and opcrating mechanism, whereby said combs are 

